The Meta-Chlorians just need to do their job a little better

I can't speak to the number of iPhones in active use that can't be updated, but the iPhone 6s, released in Sept 2015, still gets iOS 14 updates, presumably at least until the next major update, which should put it around 6 years of updates.

Facebook isn't equivalent... you are either messaging existing friends within Facebook or people from their post. You do have the option to upload contacts to Facebook to add friends that way, which is then part of your account, which FB messenger uses. Which is a roundabout way of saying that FB Messenger wouldn't mind if you uploaded your contacts to Facebook.

Whatsapp.... it asks for your contacts
Telegram.... same
Snapchat.... oh yeah
Nimses... these guys too
LinkedIn.....of course (to be fair, not specifically a messaging app)
Hangouts... yup
GroupMe.... mmhmmm
Skype.... +1

So yeah, maybe your experience has been different than mine and you use an entirely different set of messaging apps, but asking to use contacts is the norm, in case sharing of that contact information makes it easy to identify people that you already know that use the app. So yeah, you might want to review your app permissions, but it's fairly likely that regardless of whether you allowed it, accessing your contacts was asked for.

Would more examples actually be useful, or just more examples?

I am currently raising 3 human beings, and while I don't make any claims of be a perfect parent (is there such a thing?), I believe I help do a pretty good job with the assistance of my wife.

As an average human being, I believe that most parents would want thier children to turn out something like themselves. To do that, parent's teach thier children thier values and beliefs. I do not consider this forcing it upon them.

Personally I feel that respect for others stems from your own beliefs, and without a solid base of what to believe, which will evolve over time as life shapes a person, that person will likely have little respect for others, or possibly be less socially palatable (can't think of the right words to use here so don't rip me because it doesn't work for you).

On a semi side note to this, I am very active in my children's lives (my oldest is 6, so not a whole lot going on just yet), which I would think most people on /. would agree would be a good thing, especially with all the hubbub raised over things such as parent's suing game companies for corrupting their children. In my eyes, being active in a child's life is going to pass on beliefs, either actively or passively.

Regardless, it is great that people raise their children differently, it provides a lot more interesting people overall.